Steam blower



C. S. HEFFELFINGER.

STEAM BLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24. 1920.

1,404, 54, Patented Jan. 31,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lawvawtoz Ma WWW C. S. HEFFELFINGER.

STEAM BLOWER- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1920- Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STEAM BLOWER.

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Specification of Letters latenh Pgmqgnt d Ja 31 1 2 Application filed January 24, 1920. Serial No. 353,710.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. Hnrrnnrnvonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Blowers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to steam blowers adapted to create a. forced draft in furnaces and similar apparatus where draft in excess of the natural draft is desired.

Natural draft often does not furnish sufficient air to keep the fire of a furnace in the proper condition to maintain steam pressure and also to consume all gases and products of combustion, and it is therefore desirable to equip the furnace with auxiliary means for producing an extra draft whenever the same is desired, either intermittently or continuously to increase combustion of the fuel and the temperature of the fire. Generally, in furnaces using the low grades of fuel a considerably increased draft is desirable and often necessary to assist the combustion of the fuel and to obtain greater heating value therefrom.

Steam blowers have heretofore been em ployed for producing a forced draft by discharging steam into the ash pit or space under the grate at the same time inducing a draft of air into such space and from thence through the fuel on the grate and into the fiues. The additional air assists the combustion of the fuel and gases, and the velocity .of the mixed steamand air serves to open up the fuel bed on the grate and make all portions of the fuel accessible to the air for increased combustion.

The objects of the present invention are to provide an improved formrof steam blower operating on th injector, principle, that shall efficiently induce a draft of air of the desired velocity and volume. Another object of the invention is to provide asteam blower that shallbe simple and economical in construction and one that may be readily installed in operative position in a suitabl passage in the furnace wall openinginto the ash pit. A further object of the invention is to provide a steam blower in which the parts areso arranged as to produce a substantially annular stream of mixed steam and air, whereby additionalair is drawn through the blower into "the furnace. I

Stated in general terms, an'advantageous form of blower embodying theprinciples-of my invention comprises an annular injector structure adapted to be mounted in or adjacent a passage in a furnace wall to induce a draft of air through such passage intothe furnace. The injector structure consists of an annular pressure-fluid or steam supply device arranged to discharge'through a concentrically disposed annular channel that IS open at both ends and formed by two spaced concentric sleeves mounted on the steam supply device. This injector structure may, as stated, be mounted concentrically within a suitable passageextending through the furnacewallinto the space belowthe furnace grate, and it is most mounted concentrically in a sleeve-like casing adapted to be supported in such passage. The arrangement of the blower is such that the annular steam-and-air stream issuingfrom the discharge end of the channel of the injector structure induces additional currents of. air through the space within the annulus formed by the injector structure and also through the space between such annulus and theinner surface of the passage in the furnace wall or, where the injector structure is mounted casing, through the space between the annulus formed by the injector structure and the inner surface of such casing.

The above and other objects and the novel features of the inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken incon nection with the drawings which illustrate an advantageous blower construction embodying the broad principles of my inven tion, but it is to be understood that. various changes in the features of the device, such as the shape and proportions thereof and other details maybe made without depart ing from the spirit ofthe invention. In the drawings, v Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the. appli cation of a blower embodying my invention to a stationary boiler and furnace; v i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a blower em bodying my invention, a portion of thesupporting shell or casing thereof that is adapted to fitin the opening of a furnace wall in a sleeve or desirably being shown in section and partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a part of the blower embodying my invention, portions thereof being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof, and

' Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

WVhile I have herein illustrated my improved steam blower as applied to a stationary boiler and furnace to disclose one of its many possible applications, it is to be understood that it may be used in other places where a forced or induced draft is desired or where a current or mixture of steam and air'is desired, and its utility is therefore in no sense restricted to furnaces.

Referring to the drawings, a desirable form of steam blower embodying the principlesofmy invention, as herein illustrated, comprises an injector structure I that is mounted'in-a supporting sleeve or casing S adapted to fitsnugly into the passage 0 in the furnace'wall through which the draft is forced. In its broader aspects, the injector structure comprises passage means providing an annular injector duct open at both ends'and disposed in such relation to a steam supply device that when steam is discharged from said supply device through such passage means,-a1r'w1ll be induced into the passage means and a substantially annular stream of mixed steam and air will be produced. In the advantageous form illustrated, theinjector structure I comprises a suitablesteam supply device D adapted to discharge asubstantially annular stream of fluid under pressure,.such as steam, through a coaxially disposed annular induction passage or channel C which is open at both ends, so that acurrent of air will be induced into and through such channel bythe discharge of the pressure fluid therethrough.

In this instance, the annular induction passage or channel C is formed by two spaced, concentrally arranged sleeves 11 and 12whichare mounted in such position on the steam supply device D as to receive between them the steam or pressure fluid discharged from thisdevice. The channel 0 being open at both ends, as stated, air willtherefore be induced into the same by the discharge of steam therethrough, such air mixing with the steam and forming therewith a substantially unbroken annular stream of mixed steam and air, in the nature of a hollow envelope or mantle,'emerging at high velocity from the frontor discharge end of the channel.

The steam supply device D, as adapted for cooperation with the circular passage 0 or the casing S, comprises a pipe '13 which is in -the form of a circular annulus; but it will be understood that the annulus may be of rectangular or other suitable shape that will adapt it for use in a correspondingly shaped opening. The annular injector structure comprising the pipe 13 and its 00- operating channel-forming means 11, 12 discharges an annular stream of fluid of somewhat smaller, and preferably substantially smaller, external diameter than the internal diameter of the opening or the supporting sleeve S, whereby additional air-currents are induced through the space between the injector structure and the inner surface'of the opening or supporting sleeve, and also through the space within theannulusdefined by the pipe 13, an arrangement making for high efficiency.

Suitable outlet means may be provided in the pipe 13 to discharge'the pressure fluid or steam therefrom into the channel C, the blower herein illustrated employing a particularly desirable outlet means comprising an annular series of jet nozzles N projecting laterally from the pipe 13 into the inlet end of the channel C. As shown, the nozzles are formed integral with the pipe 13 but they may of course be formed separately and connected to the pipe by screw threads or other means. As best shown in Fig; 4, the pipe 13 tapers laterally in the direction of the jet nozzles, the inner walls of the pipehaving a corresponding taper toward the inlet'ends of the passages in the nozzles, which are disposed at the apex of the tapering part of the pipe. The annular sleeves 11 and 12 have outwardly and oppositely "flaring, rear portions or flanges 111 and 121 spaced from the nozzles and from the pipe 13 to afford suitably wide and free inlet passages for the movement of large volumes of air into and through the channel C. It will be seen "that the inner walls of the flared intake 111, 121, are substantially parallel to the adjacent tapered'portion of the pipe 13, thus providing in effect two parallel-walled substantially unobstructed annular air intakes which converge at an acute angle and mergesmoothly into the main injector duct C, anarrangement which ensures maximum injector effect.

The sleeves 11 and 12, in the typical construction illustrated, are secured to the pipe 13 by rows of spaced webs 15 which are securedto the pipe and to the. flaring portions 111 and 121, which, as pointed out, are dis posed parallel to the-sides of the tapering part of the pipe. The webs 15 are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the series of vnozzles and between the'nozzles so that they will not materially obstruct the admission of air to the channel C The injector structure I may be mounted in a suitable position coaxial with. and-within or operatively adjacent to, the passage O. As herein shown, it is -best mounted within the supporting casing or sleeve S, near the outwardly flared intake end 16 thereof, the

casing being providedfwith two diametrically opposite openings 17 and18, respec tively adapted to receive thenipple 19 and to register-with threaded socket: of the lug 20 on the pipe 13. In assemblingtheinjee tor structure in the supporting sleeve S, the nipple 19 is first passed intothe' opening 17 and when the threaded socket oftlie lug 2O isplaced in register withthe opening 18, the plug-"21 may be screwed into the socket of the lug to hold the parts in assembled relation; A steam supply pipe P having a valve V may be coupled to the nipple as'shown in Fig. 1 to supply the steam required to opcrate the blower; "A flange 1* on the sleeve S affords means for holding the latter in position in the opening 0.

Briefly, the operation of the steam blower is as follows: Steam that is supplied from the pipe P through the valve V to the injector structure I, discharges from the nozzles N of the latter in an annular row of jets, which form in effect an annular stream of steam. The steam discharging at a high velocity induces currents of air through the spaces between the outwardly bent sides 11.1 and 121 and the pipe 13 into the channel C. The air enters the channel C through inlets behind the outlets of the steam nozzles and the steam from the nozzles therefore mixes with the air producing a high-velocity, substantially unbroken annular stream of mixed steam and air which discharges from the open front end of the channel C and substantially concentrically with the sleeve S into the ash pit A of the furnace. The draft passes up through the fuel bed on the grate G and out through the flues in the usual manner, heating the boiler B or other heat utilizing means. The high-velocity stream of air and steam acts as a means for inducing an additional flow of air axially through the space within the annulus defined by the pipe 13 and also through the annular space between the pipe 13 and the inner wall of the sleeve S. In this way a large volume of air may be supplied to a furnace by my apparatus with a comparatively small quantity of steam, thereby providing a steam blower which operates efficiently and at a comparatively small expense.

While I have shown and described my improved steam blower in detail it will be understood that various features of its construction may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the exact details disclosed. i

What I claim is: a

l. A blower comprising the combination, with a double walled sleeve providing an annular conduit open at both ends, of an annular fluid-supply device adjacent one end of said conduit supporting said conduit but spaced from the walls thereof and arranged to discharge fluid under pressure thereinto.

2A blower comprising the combination, with a double walled sleeve providing an annular conduit open at both ends, the walls of said sleeve being oppositely flared at one end,:of an annular steam supply device extending into the flaring end ofsaid conduit but spaced fromthe wallsthei-eof and arranged to discha-rgea plurality of jets of steam. thei einto substantially parallelto said walls; -n

- 8; A-blower-comprising the combination with a fluid supply pipe, provided with a fluid outlet, of means mounted on said pipe and forming .a fluid channel adjacent said pipe into which said outlet discharges, said channel having provision for admitting air thereto and also having provision for the unobstructed outlet of fluid from its discharge end.

4. A blower comprising the combination with a fluid supply pipe provided with a series of fluid outlets, of means mounted on said pipe providing a channel into which each outlet is adapted to discharge, there being provision for admitting air into such means and for the unobstructed discharge of fluid therefrom.

5. A blower comprising the combination with a fluid-supply pipe provided with a series of fluid outlets, of spaced sleeves mounted on said pipe and forming a channel open at both ends arranged to admit air thereto and, to receive the discharge of fluid from such outlets, and to discharge mixed air and fluid therefrom.

annular'series of nozzles projecting laterally thercfroni, and means mounted on said pipe providing an annular channel into which said nozzles are arranged to discharge, such channel having an annular fluid outle at its discharge end. and a fluid or air inlet behind the outlets of said nozzles.

8. Ablower comprising the combination of an annularly arranged fluid-supply pipe having outlet means and sleeves disposed on opposite sides of said outlet means and forming a channel in communication with said outlet means, said channel having a the Walls of saidfiared intake to form convergent annular passages merging intosaid duct.

10; Ablowercomprising the combination 7 of an: annular fluid-supply pipe provided With a plurality of nozzles, sleeves mounted on said pipe forming an annular channel, said sleeves. being oppositely flared at one end ofsaid channel said nozzles projecting betweenisaidsleeves at thefiaredend of said channel, said sleeves bcingsupported by said pipe but spaced therefrom whereby converging; passages between" the pipe and sleeves are formed. x

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, 7 I

renames s. ,HE'F ELFiNe-ER. 

